crescent girl

Oh dear, ten pages and counting -- I always said Speedway Star was a better read in the close season! Peter Collins was one of the most gifted riders of all time -- in a very, very exclusive 'club' like Ronnie Moore before him and Darcy Ward since. He was almost certainly the prime reason Belle Vue were able to continue in speedway after 1987, and I've always thought his involvement in saving the famous club at that time has been air-brushed a wee bit from their wonderful history. As such, he is entitled to his opinions, and it is better they be aired publicly -- be they right or wrong -- than left as unheard mutterings. Regarding the BV policy, it might have been better to follow the example of Berwick Bandits, where the club announced to the world in 2016 that, excluding guests, every living rider -- whether he was a 15-year legend such as Rob Grant or a wobbler who had only competed in one heat before crashing out -- who had raced as a Bandit since 1968 could, and should apply to the club for a lifetime pass to every meeting at Shielfield. Many have done, and attend matches, often with (paying) friends and family members. A great deal of goodwill has been generated. It isn't rocket science.

Maybe be a few sore heads on Sunday morning after the dance, but a refreshing breeze at Duns will clear away the cobwebs! See here: After so much hard work and unforeseen hurdles, the Training Academy team can now confirm the opening date of the Grant Henderson Tankers Speedway Training Academy @ Duns MX! This Sunday the 22nd of October at 11am we will launch the first official session at the brand new facility. To book in please call 07730-691897. Plans are in place to run every Sunday (weather permitting) from 11am to 3pm. Prices are as follows, 250cc and 500cc Riders £40 per session, 125cc and under 250cc Riders £35 per session, Under 125cc Juniors £30. Day License’s are also available by request. Membership information will follow in the coming weeks. A Live Facebook information feed from the Berwick Speedway Training Academy Page can be found @ www.berwickbandits.co with all the information you need to book in and be part of something special! All levels are welcomed and guidance and tuition will be on hand at every session and provided by one of our experienced team consisting of Kevin Doolan, Aaron Summers, Scott Courtney, Tamas Sike and Gary Flint. Special guest instructors will make regular appearances at the venue and we will keep you right up to date with that! Training bikes will be available for hire in the very near future but at present we will only be catering for riders with their own equipment. Let’s go Riding! Feel free to check out the Berwick Speedway Training Academy Page for all of the most up to date information.

From Berwick's Facebook page: ITS TIME! After an unbelievable amount of hard work and unforeseen hurdles, the training academy team can now confirm the opening date of the Grant Henderson Tankers Speedway Training Academy @ Duns MX! This Sunday the 22nd of October at 11am we will launch the first official session at the brand new facility. To book in please call 07730691897. Plans are in place to run every Sunday (weather permitting) from 11am to 3pm. Prices are as follows, 250cc and 500cc Riders £40 per session, 125cc and under 250cc Riders £35 per session, Under 125cc Juniors £30. Day License’s are also available by request. Membership information will follow in the coming weeks. A Live Facebook information feed from the Berwick Speedway Training Academy Page can be found @ www.berwickbandits.co with all the information you need to book in and be part of something special! All levels are welcomed and guidance and tuition will be on hand at every session and provided by one of our experienced team consisting of Kevin Doolan, Aaron Summers, Scott Courtney, Tamas Sike and Gary Flint. Special guest instructors will make regular appearances at the venue and we will keep you right up to date with that! Training bikes will be available for hire in the very near future but at present we will only be catering for riders with their own equipment. Let’s go Riding! Feel free to check out the Berwick Speedway Training Academy Page for all of the most up to date information.

Hmmm. An interesting viewpoint. Doesn't mean the poster is right tho. Or wrong.

Guests for the guests! What an absolute bustard..........

No-one has raced while a promoter since the British League era began in 1965

When thirty heats are decided by a single point. it is the unexpected flash of brilliance that turns the result around. I saw three this week. Liam Carr passing Mark Riss in Heat 2 at Swindon -- who saw that coming? -- David Bellego going from his customary last to second on one bend in Heat 14 last night and Nick Morris coming around the last turn in Heat 13. What a final! For anyone who doesn't agree with the play-off system, well.........

On which subject, l reckon Zmarzlik's left turn on Lebedevs was about the dirtiest move l've seen in years. Really bad.

It'll be Scott Nicholls for Sam Masters, and Lasse Bjerre for the RooBoy. Reserves hardly matter, do they?

Berwick all done and dusted. Hooray for track covers - didn't lose a single home meeting to weather all season!

Covers down?

Yes, it's true enough. There wasn't a fight on track though, just a screw-loose Hawk being stupid. Never knew if it was a real gun, tho.....

Considering the rain that drenched the area throughout Thursday and early Friday morning, the use of track covers certainly saved these two meetings. In the event, the track was in fine condition, even required a little watering between the matches.

That's it, Paulco. Great pub!

We'll be solid, but much might depend on Jye at reserve. Ippo not a place he's dominated previously - but hopefully no problems for the New JE! In pub over the road from the track, been a few spits of rain, but nothing serious. Last away match of the year, couldn't miss it.....

Congratulations to Monarchs promotion for getting onto the covers bandwagon. Other tracks take note!

Poole are at Somerset on Friday. That'll be a big one for them....

Absolutely not. Don't confuse incisive professional journalism with amateur efforts on social media.

Ah, but when Billy Smart or Chipperfield bring the circus comes to town, everyone goes to see it!

The league is in effect a 'club' -- say like a golf club -- and can make its own rules. So going to court's a no-no. But agree with original point -- the 'no changes after August 1' regulation which came in with too many Buster-influenced changes for the worse -- using a sledge-hammer on a walnut. It was rushed in to stop late introductions like Hancock at Poole and Tai at Wolves, but failed to realise the damage which would be caused to other clubs. Perhaps it should only have been applied to the post-season play-offs? Whatever, the past two seasons, this current one especially, have been an administrational disaster. Buster's reign will surely be curtailed at the AGM. But who can be persuaded to take over, and steady the ship? Thinks: Toni Frankitti?

A point to ponder on how far club has come. That crowd, perhaps the lowest of the season, would have been considered as being wholly acceptable, very much the norm, in the latter years of wee Peter's regime. With racing of this calibre on a track like that, it is no wonder attendances have held up so well in the face of all the injuries and low league standing.

Maybe Toni Frankitti has done a deal with them?

I'm at Bristol Airport. Dry, sun trying to get through, but muggy.

A factor of the switch to Saturday nights which has to be considered. The same problem became obvious at Berwick over recent years as reduced NHS funding restricted availability of county ambulances more and more and several long delays were experienced. Berwick have now, for the past two or three seasons had two ambulances and two paramedics on hand at every meeting, and the delays have evaporated. Yes, there is a cost -- and Berwick are by no means a wealthy club -- but the investment in medical cover has proved its worth time and again in the recent past, including last night when JPB suffered neck injuries and had to be constantly attended until a county vehicle arrived to transport him to hospital for further checks (he is hopefully going to be OK) yet the meeting could go on to a thrilling finish.

Leicester are at the OTA on Monday night.